Utah Jazz notebook: GM poll tabs Earl Watson as future coach

SALT LAKE CITY — Earl Watson made a confession about how he ended up in the annual NBA general manager survey results.

Not only that, Watson ratted out teammates Jeremy Evans and Gordon Hayward for helping him get named as one of the NBA's current players most likely to become a head coach.

"I broke into the website," he said, smiling. "The three votes came from us."

Watson was joking. (Or was he?)

Truth be told, he was honored.

"It's a compliment of respect, and I appreciate that, especially since that's what I want to do after (playing) basketball," the 10-year NBA veteran said. "I love the game. I've been around too many great people for me not to give the game back to someone else."

Watson's current bench boss believes the UCLA product will succeed.

"I think he'll be a great head coach. He does a great job. He understands the game. He's an extremely hard worker," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "He can see things during the course of the game and make adjustments. He can read plays a step or two ahead of where the play is at that moment."

Corbin didn't want to get too far ahead of himself when asked what players Watson might hire as assistants.

"I like him as a player right now," Corbin said. "Let him coach in a few years."